Match-safe.



No. 70!,729. Patented June 3, I902 W. G. HURLEY.

MATCH SAFE.

(Application filed. July 20, 1901.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

WILLIAM G. HURLEY, OF KREBS, INDIAN TERRITORY.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,729, dated June 3, 1902. Application filed July 20. 1901; Serial No. 69,147. on model.)

To ctZl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. HURLEY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Krebs, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, have invented new and useful Improvements in Match-Safes, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in match-safes, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, cheap, and convenient metallic holder adapted to be applied to a miners hat, so as to be within convenient reach at all times, the device comprising a match box in connection with a tubular holder for receiving a wick-picker and securely holding the same in place, preventing accidental dislodgment of the picker.

The device as a whole is constructed of sheet metal, and the pick-holdingtube and match-box are connected with a common support or base adapted to be applied to the miners cap at a suitable point.

It is also an object of the present invention to construct the match-box in such a manner as to render the same practically waterproof, thus keeping the matches dry and in condition for use.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a miners hat, showing a lamp applied to the front thereof and the match-safe attached to the cap at one side. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device, showing the pick-tube in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the device.

Similar numerals of reference denote like parts in the several views.

In order to illustrate the application of the present improvement, I have shown in Fig. 1 a miners cap 1 having applied to the front thereof the ordinary miners lamp 2. As is well known, miners lamps are without any mechanical means for turning the wick up or down, being simply provided with a spout 3, in which the wick is placed. In order to adjust the wick, it is necessary for the miner to carry what is termed a wick-pick, which consists usually of a piece of wire pointed at one end, as shown at 4, and provided at the opposite end with a loop or eye 5, constituting the handle of the pick. The miner has to insert the point of the pick into the end of the spout of the lamp and gradually work the wick outward.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for housing and carrying the wick-pick and also for carrying matches with which the miner may relight his lamp when it becomes extinguished.

In carrying out the present invention I employ a base-plate 6, the length of which is somewhat greater than the length of the match holder or box, so as to provide oppositely-extending attaching-ears 7, which project beyond the match-box and are provided withopenings 8 to receive suitable fastening devices wherewith the base-plate is securely attached'to the cap, as shown in Fig. 1.

Connected to the upper edge of the baseplate is a cylindrical match-box 9, the same being arranged horizontally and having a match-receiving opening 10 at the top which may be closed by. means of a transverselycurved lid 11, which when closed gives the match-box the appearance of a true cylinder, the lid being hinged at 12 to the main body of the match-box and immediately adjacent to the upper edge of the base-plate 6, while the free edge of the lid is provided with a catchlip 13. The body of the cylinder 9 is roughened in any suitable manner on its outer surface, whereby a match may be readily lighted when drawn thereover.

In order to hold the lid closed, the body of the match-box has mounted therein a springcatch 14, having a terminal lip or shoulder 15, adapted to engage the catch-lip 13 on the lid. One end of the spring-catch is connected fixedly to the casing, as at 16, while intermediateits ends it is provided with a releasepin 17, which projects through an opening in the lower portion of the match-box, adapting it to be pushed inward by the miners finger for releasing the lid. The lid is thrown open by means of a coil-spring 18, which encircles the hinge-pin12 and has one of its't'erminals arranged to bear against the body of the match-box, while the other terminal presses against the inner side of the lid, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. It is therefore only necessary for the miner to press inward upon the release-pin 17, when the lid will fly open and give access to the matches. When closed, the lid at its opposite ends rests upon a pair of curved flanges 18, extending inward from the end walls or heads 19 of the box, thus preventing dripping Water from gaining access to the interior of the match-box and rendering the matches unfit for use. The matchbox is thus water-tight for all practical purposes.

The lower edge portion of the base-plate is curled or rolled in a forward direction to form a pick-tube 20, the same being in the form of a cylindrical sleeve constituting an integral portion of the base-plate. The tube 20 is preferably closed at one end, as at 21, and left open at the other to receive the pick, and when the pick is inserted in the tube it is held against displacement by means of a friction-spring 22, extending longitudinally within the tube and fastened at one end, as at 23, therein. The spring 22 is deflected intermediate its ends, so as to bear with the necessary friction against the pick, and thus the pick will be held Within the tube, except when sufficient drawing force is applied thereto by the miner to overcome the frictional resistance of the retaining-spring.

The improvement in match-safes heroinabove described will be found very convenient in use and may be applied readily by any one to a cap or hat of any description. The device keeps the matches in perfect condition for use and securely holds the pick in readiness for use at all times, thus avoiding the liability of the miner losing the pick and being unable to adjust the wick of his lamp when it becomes necessary.

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. An attachment for a miners cap, comprising a back plate having oppositely-extending perforated ears at its upper part whereby it may be secured to the cap, a roll formed at one edge of the back and providing a cylindrical pick-tube, a spring-strip therein, a spring fitted in said tube and adapted to retain a pick therein, a cylindrical casing secured to the back and having a roughened outer surface, a segmental cover hinged to the casing at the rear thereof, a spring for holding the cover normally open, flanges on the casing adapted to extend under the cover when closed, a lip on the cover, a spring-controlled latch adapted to engage the lip and hold the cover closed, and a releasing-pin on the latch.

2. An attachment for minors caps comprising a base-plate, a pick-holder formed integral therewith, and a match-safe secured to said base, said safe comprising a casing having a roughened surface, circular ends thereto, a cover hinged to the casing, flanges extending from the ends and adapted to seal the ends of the cover when closed, a spring for holding the cover normally open, a springcoutrolled latch in the casing, a lip on the cover adapted to be engaged thereby, and a releasing-pin on the latch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

lVILLIAM G. IIURLEY.

Witnesses:

S. H. STROUP, HARRY OGLESBY. 

